The sun., 1887-03-27
Nv sxRxnARDrs DRESSING RooM
NE Actress Ania her Jewels ana her Gowns
AT her Hotel.


AZ her Hotel.
Mime. Bernhardt kindly invited me to her
dressing room tonight" said to a young
woman who occupied an adjoining stall.
The genius OF tho French artist rose TO its
erandest height Just then, the lrs OF jealous
wrath blazed In her eyes, that combine the
nerceness OF the tigress with the softness OF q
nuns at her vesper prayers.
Thefratl form trembled like lily on it's sen-
der stem and swayed with tho incompatible
grace that only few women in the world may
hope 70 initiate, and then 1t sank into chair.
with the long draperlcs wound about 1t and the
wondrous head bowed In speechlcss rage.
The flesh OF my neighbor quivered. while
brayos rang through the house. and the heated
Air OF the theatre deadened our senses to all
but the magnetic skill OF the actresses art. This
hot house atmosphere suits Madame's frail
physique and high strung nerves.
1t is said that Bernhardt thinks her art
creeps its sensuOus way into our hearts tho
more when our bodies burn, and her power
lifts US to warmer praise as the mercury rises
In tho theatre. This situation may have
affected the young woman by my side. who
vowed that she would give yoar OF her life to
meet the divine artist.
AL pleasure that we receive is life; all life
without pleasure is death, and the pale
oAA ohJVyou ~ kTcuL Cuunk Vi IlL6 III Iu6
ACTRESSES charm The life Of the woman her.
self lies chiefly In the triumphs OF her art Its
high pressure keeps her beautiful with no
youth. and forceful with the strength that the
excitement Of applause brings.
"Grande publiQuel" Madame cried, with her
hand pressed to her heart, as she faced the
mirror In her dressing room. Even there, with
no audience but her women ind one interested
iooker.on. the slender figure swayed with the
Same supple grace. the basilisk eyes cleaned
with their changeful fires, and the thin lips
parted over the white teeth in the rare smile
tnat goes to our hearts quite as much us do
II vas later after the great scene in the third act
the house stil rang in the actresses ears. The
Sns4Arsht h.S Ss words and the strain Of emotion M
above woman's weakness: There are bodies
that sxcitement kills: it feeds this ,woman's,
without Il might long % since have i oaed s W1e out
into another sphere and assumed another
"Grande, rl6lGue!" again and again Bern
aIs Gnrdt sried Mhile the Mirror reflected her ra
soft gray fur and girdled with broad silver belt.
All OF the nctresss, movements M, ,I behind the
forth in sudden scenes before the footIEhts;
fascination. Willie eenstansly s surrounded G BY
attendants, she is yet helpful. She makes her
oil else. true to art. Her toilet table presents
E confusion Of cosmetics, powders. bottles.
sRe ns T encSss s
auburn locks above her forehead, while maid
holds whtte shawl to wrap about the slender
throat during the hurried passage through the
wings from the dressing room,
Madame turns with a::auick glance toward her
Jewels that lie on velvet pad by the side of the
of sHsy to se an ew hsy
on pSSbs ss9a s
priceless gems flash against pearls Of high
beauty. Jeweled clasps are next to rings that
were the gifts Of royalty. Great sprays OF din-
il the city Of Mexico. are studded with pearls.
There are other ornaments OF brilliants that
Quickly her eyes flashed over them with the
eagernoss Of almost childish delight and rested
longest g & On a bracelet thut was present from
pleasure than q boasting in her : tone. True
sfitS Mas se shsrP Psd sd
with large solitaire. p and tho circlet composed
bodies we're diamonds, their heads rubies and
es ss se
end belts Eth in link b.a An Sdd
able difference between her stage dressing and
VI IQOSL BUTTS Is tIldU BIG WeuIS no jewels
in her hair. although combs and crescents
Huiyer on pins n ~ about her dressing 81 Table The
usss 81 she spst hesd follow the I'M
4 seemed. with the glare Of gas upon her.
that the & woman @ looked @ d sMtFapnGsly ST youthful to
Years Year, s than I she may recall fs Illness as has
threatened her fragile life. storms Of passion
aaiyesed and % darkened them hen flashed he'd ,s Ws s ahs
OF greater ivy than ha9 before The
AZ orchid. n is recFened nbenomenaI: nal Wint IT.
then, is Bernhardt, whose life has been racked
by erratic moods and worn by the exactions OF
denius rises beyond the span of woman's al
lottsd youth. and gives fascination IN exchange
Hicts line Bernhardt's face. giving it at timos
the haggardness OF years on the scene. while In
the her a
woman whom age cannot wither.
s ns hs
subtle charm as Madame greets her few ad-
mirers who fortunately have VET the M password sSs to
Tor moment in the % couiisse. 'N ''' '''''''
Only a moment then she goes s , again upon
astine has taxed her strength /; she coughs as as
wrap pressed to her It sounas ike ths
cough Of Camille. for all that she does is true
There are stories afloat that massage is nd
ministered to the actress between the acts.
and that she rests. Her resting consists in
maids In the consummntion of her toilets.
Only those who sit near the stage get an idea
Of the richness OF the material In her dresses.
One simple looking robe Of mquve, satin has
owsrs hand embrToidereH With silver beads
lining Of nasturtMimm M velvet and its pettlcoat OF
old lace, cost 81 600.
TO Offset this are simple gowns that cost but
ahundred or so, and that render Nine. Bern
hardt more charming in many eyes than do
Around the dressing room they hang this
rare collection OF stage gowns designed by
the mighty dressmakers Of Paris. They. are
covered with sheets and arranged In order. from
the cloak OF Fedora to the ball dress of CapiHe.
The tiny dressing room is scarcely large
enough Tor all this splendor; and the chem
wooden chairs seem out OF place against the
old lace and the rare stufYs OF the wardrobe.
Mme Bernhardt wears, In her trips to and
lace or surah. About her sho wraps q long
sss plush svsr g'f be Ios
antique design. Her carriage Is filled, with fur
robes. and her apartments at the hotel are Kept
The habits of the great star nre simple, like